Wednesday, June 26, 2002
|
Wednesday, June 26, 2002 |
|
Collins chides Army over USARSO relocation
WASHINGTON Pending the eminent announcement by the Department of Defense of the new location of United States Army South (USARSO), Congressman Mac Collins expressed disappointment with the closed manner in which the Army has conducted relocation selection. Collins detailed his consternation in a letter sent to Army Secretary Thomas White and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld today, calling on the Army to keep its word and conduct the selection process in an open manner, as Congress was assured would be the case. In meetings with the Army's representative in February, Collins and several other Members of Congress were assured that the Army would engage in a two phase selection process consisting of integration of the selection criteria with overall "transformation" goals, and the creation of a process by which potential communities and installations would be allowed to publically comment and provide data before any final decision was made. In making a decision without the promised public input, the Army has clearly mislead Congressional Members, Collins wrote. "Congress was promised an open and accountable process, and the Army has intentionally chosen to break that promise," Collins said. "We expect, when a representative of any government agency tells Congress they will do something, that they will do it." Because of the Army's blatant disregard to the agreed upon process, Collins threatened legislation that will block the expenditure of public funds to relocate USARSO during the next two fiscal years, or until such a time as the Army clearly defines the criteria used in the Army's selection. United States Army South's mission promotes democracy, regional stability, and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South America by engagement activities, drug interdiction efforts, and contingency operations. USARSO currently resides at Fort Buchanan in Puerto Rico.
|
||